Transformer-tank



w. M. DANN.

TRANSFORMER TANK. APPLICATION FILED FEB. i8 1915.

1374553 Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

: Z F/q/ INVENTOR WITNESSES Wa/fer M. Da m 1Min l l l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER M. DANN, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA; ASSIGNOR T0 WES'IINGHO'D'SE ELEG'IRIG AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF IEITN'SYLVANIA.

TRANSFORMER-IANK.

Specifieafion of Letters Patent. Patented API. 12,192L

Application fi1ed February 18, 1915. Serial Ne. 8,997.

T0 all wlwm z't may concem:

Be it known that I, WALTER M. DANN, a citizen 0f the United States, and a resident of Vilkinsburg, in the eounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improveme'nt in Transformer-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to inclosed electrical apparatus, und it has speeial*reference t0 casings in whieh electrical deviees, such -as alternating current tr'ansformers, may be contained.

More partieularly, my invention relates to the construction of the heat-radiating means f0r such casings whereby adequate heat radiation is insured for the electrical apparatus contained in the casings.

It is usual to immerse electrieal devices, and es1oeeially power transformers, in insulating and eooling fluids which are contained in suitable casings. Inasmuch es the cooling fluid is utilized 130 absorb the heat generated in the electrical apparatus, it is desirable to provide means for efli'ectively dissipating the heat so absorbed. T0 this end, a transformer casing has been invented, as disclosed in Patent No. 913,060 to Otto Sehaumberg and assigned t0 the Westinghouse Electric & Manufaeturing Compziny, in which a very 1arge heat-radiating surface i s secured by providing a very la1ge number of eylindrieal tubes 'of relatively small diameter so disposed es t0 establish communieation between the upper and the lower portions of a tank. The heat generated in the transformerestab- 'lisnes a C1IC1llft-ti0ll of thecooling and insulating fluid through the body portion 01 ta11k of the casing in one direction and through the cylindrical tubes in the other direetion, since the-large heat-radiating surfaces of the tubes tend to keep' the liquid in the tubes at a 10wer temperatre th an that obtaining in the body of liquid which is in proximity t0 the transformer 01 heatgener utin apparatus.

Hiiwever, a. transformer casing which is provided With cylindrical tubes 01 pip es and constructed in accordanee with the abovementioned deseription is expansive to manufacture because 0f the 1arge number 013 pipes er tubes necessary for furnishing an adequate radiating surface. In order to deerease the cost of manufaeture of s1 1eh a easing, I propose heat rad1ators 0f an 1mproved type whereby a large rzidiating surface for the easing maybe obtained, while, at the sann-e tiri1e, a relatively small number of extenor passageways between the upper and lo wer portionsof .the casing is required.

Heretofore, it has been substantially impossible t0 provide a cheap' transformer casing 0f the external tubular type whieh could be employed with high power-capaeity transformers t0 provide adequate cooling means and would b'e*light in weight and insu1ed againstthe development 013 faulty 1eaks, as we1l es, be str0ng enough mechanieally 130 permit transformers of 1arge size 150 be C011- tained berein. Again it is highiy desirable to provide S11Chfl casing in whieh the transf0rmer .may be shipped in oil. T0 thee ends I have provided the present transformer easing, but other obj ects of my invention Will be clearly pointed out in the following specification.

For a better understanding 0f the ehemateristie features, the natura, and the scope 0f 1ny invention, reference 1nay be had to the following deseription gu1d the aecompanying dmwing in which Figure 1 is a view,- partially in elevation and partially in section, 0f a transformer und an inclosing easing theref0r which is eonstructed in aceordanee With my invention; Fig. 2 ist a plan view, partially in sectien, of a form of my radiators, Fig. 3 is an enlerged side view 01 a ortion of the he:1t radiator shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a figure bymeans 01' which I propose to :hmonstrate the advantages cf a preferred ferne 0f my radiator as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring t0 Fig l, a transformer 1 h:wing a-magnetizable core member 2, a supp0irting fmrne 3 therefor, anal a Winciin'g 41- is inclosed in a fluidcontaining easing. Termina1 bushings 6 provide mezms f0r electri cally eonneeting ehe transformer windings 4 t0 exterior circuits that are utilized for' electric power distribution.

The casing 5, as sh0wn, comprises a cylindrical sheet stee1 she1l er tank 7 which is secured te a base 8 and provided With a erown 9. Tubular portioris 10, 10', 11 and 11', extending into the npper and lowei' portions, respectively, 0f the transformer. casing 5, are secured so the tank 7 und to heat radiators 12 which establish communication between the upper and 10We1 portions 0f the casing 5. The transformey 1 is immersed in {L body 13 of insulating fiuid, the

aced in the transformer 1, the cooling fluid 13 absorbs und subsequently radiates it by reason 0f its circulation through the heat radiators 12. It is apparent that, as the co01ing fluid within the main body portion 01 the casing 5 becomes heated, it W111 rise upwardly and pass downwardly through the haut radiatorg 12. Inasmuch as the heat radiators 12 contain relatively lar,ge quantities 0f insulating fluid, each must be provided with adequate and efl'ective heatradiating surface'. At the same time, the heat radiators 12 must permit a free and unobstructed flow 0.1 the cooling fiuid 13 therethrough.

A preferred 101'111 01 my heat radiator, as shown in Figs. 2 und 3, comprises front and side Walls 14, preferably made from thin she1s of steel which a1e provided W1U1 spaced lenticular. portions 01' longitudinal corrugations. T0 lend rigidity to t-he sr'uc ture, I provide in the form showri, a reinforcing plate 15 .that bridges opposite side Walls 14 of the radiators und t0 Which it is Secured by water-tighi: or continuous autogenous joints. Top and bottom end plates 16, which conform prefembly to the shape 01" the cross sections of the top anc1 bottom of the radiators 12, are secured t0 the edges of the Walls 14 and the plate 15 in the usua1 manner. It Will be noted that, by spreading ehe side Walls 14 in substantially a Vshape, by reason of employing the plante 15, the passageways 17 extending between oppositely-' disposed rentraht portions. 18 are so proportioned that a substantially negligible frictional resistande is ofi'ered 130 the flow therethrough of the cooling fluid 13.

The advantage Cf this type 01 construction will be apparent by referring to Fig. 4 inwhich a corrugated sheet stee1 member 19 is shown und from which I prefer to form the Walls 14 015 my heat radiators 12. By

bending the plate 19 to a shape Which 0011- forms to the dotted 1ine 20, an intermediate corrugation 21 is flattened out to f01n1 a wa11 22 which constitutes the blunt apex of the chamber thus provided. If no rear p1ate, as shown at 15 in Fig. 2, is furnished to spread the side Walls 14 in a substmtially V -shnpe, passageways 23 between oppositelydisposed rentrant portions 24 Will be the same size and entirely too small to permit circulation of the cooling fluid 13 through the heat radiators without offering undue fri ;tional resistance. Inasmuch as the rate at which the fluid 13 Will circu1ate is aflected by the temperature difl'erence between the fiuid at the top 0f the radiator 12 und the fluid at the bottom of the radiator, it is desirable to 0fler as 1ittle frictiona1 resistance as possible to the flow of the fluid in order that the heat occasioned by this temperatu1e difference may be employed to substantia1ly its full value for circulating purposes.

the frictional resistance ofiered t0 the circulation 01 the fluid 13 is considemble, and the rate 0f flow of this fiuid is substantially retarded. By providing ehe series 01 passageways 17 as shown in Fig. 2, in which the passageways adjacent t0 the reinforcing plate 15 a1e much larger than the passageways more remote therefrom, the frictional resistance offered t0 the fi0w 0f the fiuid Will be decreased. A 1argerportion ofthe fluid 13, as it circulates through the radiators 12, tends t0 flow through the opening 17 which is closest to the inlet 10 of the radiator. Increasingly smal1er quantities of the fiuid Will flow throuflyh tl 1osebpenings 17 which memore ren1ote from the reinforcing plate 15. In. this manner, the frictional resistzmce Ofi'ered by the radiators 12 t0 the circulation of the coolinQ; fluid is 1ninimized, thereby increasing the mean rate of' circulation 01 the cooling fluid. 1

It is some'ztime5 desirable to detach the radiators 12 from the tank 7 t0 facilitate in the handling 01& shipping 0f the transformer and the casing, und, to this end, the radiators am provided with the tubular porti0ns 10 und 11 which have fianged portions 25 that a1e drilledto receive tie-bolts 26. Similarly,the shell portion or tank 7 of the casing is provided with corresponding tubu- 1a: portions 10 und 11 which have flanges 27 that a1e correspondinglydrilled 10 receive likewise the bolts 26. By means of these bolt's, th'e radiators zue secured firm1y to the shell portion 01 the casing and, at the. same time, may be externally anal expeditiously detached theref rom. In this manner, the openings in t.he radiators regiscr withthe openii1'gs in the upper and lower. portions of the tank, the1eby permitting the insulating and cooling liquid 13 t0 circulate therdthrough substantially unobstructedly, us is desired. Of course, any suitable washers, fillin l l clam j0111ts t1ght"between the coperatlvely engaged tubular Portions. 1While Ihzwe shoWn in detail in Fig. 2 the method Which I hzi ve employed in attaching the radiators 12 to the tank, it will be a1aparent that many other methocls 0f construcbion may be substituted fo r thg one shown which W111 be satisfactory. Frequently, itmay be unnecessz1ry to detach the radiators 1170m the casing, und, in this instance, they may be welded directly t the Shell portioz 1" 7 by means of simple cy1indrical pipes. While the tubular portions 10,;1011 and 11' maybe welded to their respective members, 1 have shown the tubu- 1211 portions 10' and 11"I'1V8t0d t0 the tanketc. may be employed to nmke the ture 110 support the outwardly projecting radiators 12. The top plate 16 0f each radiator is provided with a removable plug 28 Which, on being opened, permits the air to be expelled from the radiator when the casing is being'filled With oil. By this'means,

all the radiators may be completely filled with oil. I

As above nientioned, the end plates 16, which are secured to the Walls 14 of the radiators 12, conform to the shape of the ctoss section of the bottom and topportions 01 the radiators in Order that all of' the exterior surfaces of the radiators mav be utilized to their fu1lest extent in -efl"ectively radiating the heat absorbed by the cooling fluid. T0 explain further, all 0f the exposed surfaces of the corrugations are in direct contac.t with the air currents sweeping upwatdly a1ong the radiators. If the end plates 16 projected outwardly and across the spaceS between adjacent corrugations so as to obstruct the free movement 0f the air currents near the end portions 0f the radiators, the air 011rrents W0u1d be deflectedat the end portions and, therefore, not come into contact with all of the exterior surfaces of the radiators. T0 this end, the corrugations of the radiators project beyond the end plates 16 in order that theirentire surfaces may be exposed 130 the upwardly sweeping air currents. By thus efiectively utilizinsz all of the exterior surfaces 0f the radiators 12 for dissipating the heat absorbed by the cooling fluid 13, a very eflicient radiator is proVided.

In order to preclude the development of leaks resulting fr0m faulty joints, which would be the. case if the end p1ates 16 were cut so as to conform to all of the corrugations provided in the radiators and subsequently We1ded thereto, I construct my radiators as shown in Fig. 2. At the upper and 10vver portions of tlie radiators, the ad jacent Walls comprising the corrugations 14 are pressed together, as shown at 29, and then welded together to provide continous autogenous joints. By this form of con struction, each corrugation terminates at both ends in solid fins which am perpendicular to the wa]ls of the radiators. The end plates 16 am then cut substantially in a V shape, and welded t0 continuous straight edges 30, which greatly facilitates the welding operation and, at the sametime, insures tight joints. It Will be observedthat the larger portion of' the heat radiating surface of each of the radiators 12 is made up of a plura1ity of opposed heat radiating surfaces that are spaced from one another. In the radiators shown, these opposed andspaced heat radiating .surfaces are 0f lenticular forma and are spaced in directions substantially normal to the'wal1s of the tank. In other words, the corrngations are the equivalent of a plurality of spaced and opposed radiating surfaces of 1e liticular fonn that are approxirnately parallel 130 the ortmns of the Walls of the tank that are su tended by said corrugations. Since the larger portion 0f .the heat radiating surface 0f each radiator comprises the opposed surfaces that are spaced from one another in directions substantially normal to the wal1s of the tank,

large eflective radiating surface-for the may be separately detached from the tank Without dsturbingv any 01 the remaining radiators.

Wh11e I have shown and described in detail ne embodiment of my invention, I d0 n ot desire that my invention be restricted 130 a1iy special type of construction, inasmuch as many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. This applioat-ion is a continuation in part f my patent application, Serial N0. 2839, filed Jan. 18, 1915, and assigned to the I/Vestinghose Electric & Manufacturing Company.

I claim as my invention: 1. A liquid, containing Casing having a plurality of detachable heat radiatorS Which con-nectits end portions and provide elosed paths for the circulation 01: a body-o1 liquid, the radiators comprising chambers having side-walls in which;are formed Iongitudinally extnding corrugations and end plates therefor which c0nf0rm in shape t0 the cross sections of the end of said charmbers in order 130 Subject substantially all the exterior side-wall surfaces 0f the radiators to risin air currents.

2. A iquid containing easing having a body portion and a plurality of heat 1 adiators located ontside the body Portion anal extending longitudinally'thereof in order eo connect its end portions and t0 proVide a c'losed path for the circulation 0f a body of liquid therethrough, each of said radiators comprising a hollow corrgated sheet metal member 0f triangular cross section, the side of the radiator constituting the base 0f the triangle being disposed adjacent to said body portion of the casing and having Openings at ins end portions to permit ingress and egress of the liquid.

3. liquid containing casing having a tank, a plurality ofhollow exteriorly detachable heat radiators separately attachecl 1:0, and communicating all theirencl portions with saicl sank, each of said ladiators com prising a sheet metal member having a substantially triangular shaped cross section and longitudinally extencling lenticulai por- 'tions formecl therein, and end DJGiILbBTS that conform to tl1e shape of the cross section of said sheet metal member, the sicle of the. racliacor constituting tl1e base of tl1e triangle being placecl acljacent t0 said tank.

4. The combination with a liquid-containing casing it'or a heat-generating devi ce of a heat radiator thefefor which communicates with saicl casing ancl comprises side Walls macle of a strip of sheet metal und provided with longitudinal corrugations, and a reinforcing plate which spreacls said sicle Walls apart in substantially a V-shape, saicl plate being securecl to said side Walls by continuous autogenous' joints.

5. The cbmbination with a liquid-coutaining casing f01' a heat-generating device, of a heat radiator which communicates with saicl casing and comprises a corrugatecl Sheet metal member which is bent in substantiallya V-shape, one of tl1e corrug'atiei1s thereof being expanclecl to constitute) a blunt apex for the V, und a platze extending between aclj acent sicles of the sheet metal member to form a substantially triangul;u shapecl chamber.

6. The combination with a liquid-containing casing, of a detachable heat radiator therefor comprisihg a corrugatecl sheet metallic member which is bent in substantially a V-shape, one of the corrugations being eX- panclecl to.conetitute a blunt apex f01 the V, a plate briclging adjacentylegs of tl1e V and secured thereto by c0ntinuous autogenous joints, bottom ancl top end members conforming in shape with, and secured t0 the corrugated member, ancl' tubular membe1s clisposecl acljacent to saicl t0p anal bottom encl rnembers to p1oviclemeans 0f ingress and egress f01' the liquid contained in said casing.

7. A containing casing having a bocly portion and a plurality of exteriorly cletachable' ancl l1ollow heat radiators extenclin longitudinally thereof and connecting 1ts end portions for permitting the eirculation therethrough of a bocly of liquid containecl in said casing, the racliators comprising hollow members, those sides of whichare parallel t0 ehe sicles of said casing havi1ig relatively smaller dimensions than the dimen= sions of tl1e other sicles of saicl hollow members. v

8. A containing caSing having a bocly portion and a plurality of exteriora11cl hol- 10W llett radiators extending longituclinally thereof and conneeting its: endpqrtions t0 permit the circulation therethrough of a body of liquid contained in said-casing, the' radiators bomprising hollow chambers havjacent eorrugations unobstructed through outtheentire lengfl1 0f the radiators.

-9. The combination with a device t0 be coolecl, a fluiclin which the device is immersed, ancl a tank containing the device and tl1e fluicl, 0f a plurality of radiators cletachably secured to the exterior of the tank each cf which comrnunicates separately with the tank al) its top ancl bottom.

10. The combinationwith a clevice Co be colecl, a fluid in which the clevice is immersed, and a tank containing the device and the fiuicl, of a plurality 0f Separately detachable flat ancl elongated radiators se= cured t0 the exterio1of tl1e tank ancl having their long'er axes respectively extencling longiflukclinally and radially with respect t0 tl1o 11. The combination with a device to be coolecl, a fluid inwhich the device is immersed, a ta'nk containing the device ancl the fluid anal having lateral outlet ancl inlef openings near its t0p ancl bottom, and flanges attached t0 the tank and sun'ouncling tl1e saicl openings, 5f racliato'rs exterior to the tank each of which isprovidecl with an 95 inlet ancl an outlet, flanges securecl t0 the said inlets aIid outletsof the racliators, an l tially from tdp to bottm of the t-ink each 1*acliator having an inlet aud an 0utlet, flanges attachecl to the saicl inlets and 0utlets of tl1e racliators, ancl meanS for clamp-- ing the latter fianges t0 tl1e formei. 4

13. Tl1e combination with.a device to be cooled. a fluid in which the clevice is immersecl, zi'ncl a tank containing the'device 11 ancl the fluid, of aplurality of radiatore separately anal detachably securecl to the exterior f the tank ancl euch 013 whiel1 communicates separately with the tank at its top and b0tton1.

14. The conclbination with a clevice to be coolecl, a fluid in wl1ich said :levice is immersecl, and a tank c01itaining saicl device aIicl Said fiuid and having flangerl openings near the t0p'- and bottom, 0f a plurality of radiator units detachably securecl t0 Said tank ancl l1aving fiangecl members atthe top and bottom Whicli a1e aclaptecl t0 register with, ancl be secured to, thefianges surrounding said tank openings, whereby the entire weight of each radiator unit is supported by the means which admit of fluid communication between said unit and said tank.

15. The combination with a device t0 be cooled, a fluid in which said device is immersed, and a, tank containing said device and said fluid and having flanged openings near the top and bottom, of a plurality of radiator units detachably secured to said;

tank and having flanged Unembers at the top and bottom which are adapted 150 register with, and be secured to, the flanges surrouhding said tank openings, whereby the entire weight of each radiator unit is fluid communication between sa.id mit; and

said trank, the vertical dimension of the radiating surface 0f each of said units being substantially the same as the distance betw:}e;n the upper and lower openings in said ta In testimony whereof,l have hereunto g)0l'ib8d my name this 17th day of Feb.

WALTER M. DANN.

Witnesses:

B. B. HINES, GEO. W. HANSEN. 

